Chapter Text
It was a calm day—at least, as calm as a day could be in Ghost City. Xie Lian had just returned to Paradise Manor from his latest venture collecting scraps in Puqi Village. The basket strapped to his back was filled to the brim, its contents rattling softly as he walked. It was a most impressive haul, and he couldn’t help the small smile of satisfaction that tugged at his lips.
He hadn't been this fortuitous in his scrap-collecting endeavors in quite some time. Actually, now that he thought about it, he never had a haul like this without San Lang by his side. His steps slowed as he considered this. Surely, his beloved must have transferred some of his luck to him without him noticing.
“How cheeky,” Xie Lian murmured, shaking his head with an exasperated sigh. He could practically hear Hua Cheng’s voice now, teasing him for being so easy to please.
As he approached the gates of Paradise Manor, the towering structure seemed to shimmer under the ever-present crimson glow of Ghost City. Pushing open the grand doors, he was greeted by a familiar sight: the smiling yet crying mask of Yin Yu.
“Your Highness,” Yin Yu greeted, his voice calm yet tinged with his usual melancholy.
Xie Lian offered a polite smile in return. “Yin Yu, it’s good to see you. Keeping everything in order as usual, I see.”
The ghost officer inclined his head slightly. “Of course. Though, it looks like you've been busy as well.” His gaze flicked to the overfilled basket on Xie Lian’s back.
Xie Lian chuckled, setting the basket down with a soft thud. “I’ve had a rather lucky day. Though, I suspect San Lang had something to do with it."
Yin Yu’s lips quirked into a faint smile—not that anyone else could see that though due to his mask. “That sounds like him.”
Xie Lian tilted his head, observing the man before him. Though it had been ten years since Yin Yu’s unexpected return, it still felt like just yesterday. It was hard to believe he was standing here now, even as a ghost.
“You know,” Xie Lian began, his tone light but thoughtful, “I never imagined Qi Ying could focus on anything for more than a fleeting moment. But with you at the center of his attention, he proved me quite wrong.”
Yin Yu’s expression shifted, something unreadable passing over his features. “Yizhen… he’s persistent when it comes to things—or people—that matter to him.”
Xie Lian smiled knowingly. “It’s admirable. And I must say, I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong.”
For a moment, silence fell between them, comfortable yet tinged with unspoken memories. Yin Yu’s death had been a heavy blow, not just to Qi Ying but to everyone in Ghost City. The Waning Moon Officer had been beloved by all, but perhaps the one who took it hardest, aside from Qi Ying, had been Hua Cheng himself.
Hua Cheng tried to push Yin Yu off as just a another subordinate, but Xie Lian could tell how much Yin Yu meant to him. He was his closest confidante, his right hand man, but mostly he was a friend.
"Thank you, for everything Yin Yu. I know San Lang doesn't say it nearly enough, but we really are happy to see you back." Xie Lian said with a small smile.
Yin Yu hesitated, his mask hiding most of his expression, but Xie Lian could sense the tension in his posture. “Hua Chengzhu… has his own ways of showing his care,” he said finally.
“That he does,” Xie Lian agreed, his smile fond. “Though he rarely lets it show, I know losing you hurt him deeply. He just won’t admit it, not even to me.”
Yin Yu gave a light chuckle.
Xie Lian waved a hand, his tone lightening. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to sort through my treasures before San Lang teases me for leaving them lying around.”
“Of course.”
With a warm smile, Xie Lian disappeared deeper into the manor, his heart lighter than it had been in days. Ghost City may have been a chaotic, unpredictable place, but in moments like these, it felt a little closer to home.
Xie Lian pushed open the door to his and Hua Cheng's shared chamber, balancing his haul of trinkets in his arms. The room was bathed in the warm glow of crimson light, emanating from the ever-present lanterns of Paradise Manor. Inside, Hua Cheng was sprawled on their bed, one arm draped lazily over his forehead as he stared at the ceiling, looking utterly bored.
However, the moment Xie Lian entered, Hua Cheng’s eyes lit up, his entire demeanor transforming. In a fluid motion, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, quickly crossing the room to meet his husband.
“My, Gege, you’ve been busy,” Hua Cheng said, his lips curling into a grin as he took the basket from Xie Lian’s arms with ease. “You really outdid yourself today. Did you have fun?”
There was a glint in Hua Cheng’s eye that made Xie Lian narrow his own eyes in suspicion.
“Hmph, I did! You wouldn’t believe the treasures people throw away!” Xie Lian exclaimed, his voice bright with enthusiasm as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
Hua Cheng chuckled softly, setting the basket down on a nearby table. “Oh, I believe it. Gege has always had a keen eye for finding value in the unexpected.”
Xie Lian tilted his head, watching as Hua Cheng began carefully examining the contents of the basket. “You sound like you’re teasing me, San Lang.”
“Teasing you?” Hua Cheng turned, his grin widening. “How could I, when Gege looks so happy?”
Xie Lian crossed his arms, feigning indignation. “I am happy. You’re not the only one who can find treasures, you know.”
“I wouldn’t dream of stealing your thunder,” Hua Cheng replied smoothly, lifting a small, intricately carved figurine from the basket. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting it with genuine interest. “This one’s nice. Did you find it in Puqi Village?”
“I did,” Xie Lian said, leaning forward. “Isn’t it lovely? It was just lying there, half-buried in the dirt. I couldn’t leave it behind.”
“Of course not,” Hua Cheng murmured, setting the figurine down with care. He turned to Xie Lian, his expression softening. “You’ve always had a heart that sees beauty where others don’t.”
Xie Lian’s cheeks flushed faintly, and he looked away. “San Lang, you say things like that so easily. It’s unfair.”
“Unfair?” Hua Cheng’s voice was full of mock indignation. He crossed the room in two strides, kneeling in front of Xie Lian. “How is it unfair to tell the truth, ah?”
Xie Lian opened his mouth to reply, but Hua Cheng gently took one of his hands, brushing his lips against his knuckles. “Gege works so hard for even the simplest things. If I don’t praise you, who will?”
Xie Lian laughed softly, his earlier suspicion melting away. “You’re too good to me, San Lang.”
“No,” Hua Cheng said firmly, looking up at him with unwavering intensity. “Not good enough. I’ll spend every day trying to be better, for you.”
“San Lang…” Xie Lian’s voice was barely above a whisper.
The tender moment hung between them for a heartbeat before Hua Cheng, sensing the weight of it, lightened the mood with a mischievous grin. “Now, how about you tell me the story of each of these treasures? I want to know exactly how Gege managed to outdo even himself today.”
Xie Lian let out a delighted laugh, shaking his head. “You really want to hear every detail?”
“Of course,” Hua Cheng said, sitting beside him and pulling the basket closer. “Every. Single. One.”
And so, with Hua Cheng leaning against him, Xie Lian began recounting his day, his voice animated as he described each find.
Xie Lian held up a chipped, porcelain cup, turning it over gently in his hands. “This one,” he began, his tone thoughtful, “an old lady actually gave to me. She said that if I thought I could restore it, I could keep it.” He carefully placed the cup back down alongside its broken pieces, arranging them neatly.
Hua Cheng, standing at his side, watched him with an amused glint in his crimson eye.
“And this one,” Xie Lian continued, picking up a jade figurine missing its head, “I found in a bin alongside the road. I couldn’t find the missing piece, but I’m sure it would look beautiful even without it once we polish it up!” His face lit up with excitement, clearly envisioning its potential.
Hua Cheng chuckled, reaching out to gently take the jade creature from Xie Lian’s hands. He examined it closely before saying, “These are wonderful finds, Gege. You really have a knack for this. I’m sure Yin Yu could help locate the missing piece for this statue. He’s always been good at tracking things down.”
“Do you think so?” Xie Lian asked, his voice hopeful.
“Of course,” Hua Cheng said confidently, placing the figurine back into the basket. “Actually, he’s in the library right now. It wouldn’t be any trouble to ask him, and we could even show him this one too.” He held up the intricately carved figurine he’d been admiring earlier.
Xie Lian smiled, nodding enthusiastically. “Oh yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Yin Yu is so knowledgeable, and he always seems to enjoy helping with things like this.”
With that, Hua Cheng began carefully repacking the trinkets into the basket, his movements precise and deliberate. “We’ll make sure nothing gets damaged further,” he said, his voice soft but focused.
Once everything was secured, the two of them set off, walking side by side through the quiet corridors of Paradise Manor. The only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps, but the silence between them was warm and comfortable.
As they approached the library, Xie Lian paused, tilting his head slightly. From behind the doors, the sound of voices reached them. He recognized two of them immediately: Yin Yu’s calm, measured tone and Quan Yizhen’s excitable, boisterous voice. However, the third voice took him a moment longer to place. It was colder, deliberate, with an edge of dry amusement that was unmistakable.
“He Xuan,” Xie Lian murmured, glancing at Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at his lips. Noticing Xie Lian’s questioning glance, he merely shrugged his shoulders.
Xie Lian’s curiosity was piqued, and he leaned closer to the door, catching snippets of the conversation inside.
“Shixiong, are you almost finished?” Quan Yizhen whined out. “You promised you'd come help me on a mission!”
“Patience, Yizhen” Yin Yu replied, his voice tinged with weariness. “Besides, I highly doubt you need my help anyways.”
“And yet,” He Xuan interjected coolly, “here he is, wanting it.”
Yin Yu let out a long-suffering sigh. “Why are you here?”
Hua Cheng shot Xie Lian a knowing look. “Sounds lively in there.”
Xie Lian chuckled softly, his hands gripping the basket handle a little tighter. “It does. Should we interrupt?”
Hua Cheng smirked, pushing the door open without hesitation. “Why not? The more, the merrier.”
Inside, the scene was as animated as the voices suggested. Yin Yu sat at a large desk, his mask slightly askew as he filled out a report. Quan Yizhen stood nearby, gesturing wildly as he spoke, while He Xuan leaned against a bookshelf, his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised in mild amusement.
The three turned as the door creaked open, and Quan Yizhen immediately broke into a grin. “Xie Lian! Hua Cheng! What are you doing here?”
“We’ve brought a mystery for Yin Yu to solve,” Hua Cheng said smoothly, placing the basket on the table. “And we didn’t expect to find such distinguished company here today.” His gaze flicked briefly to He Xuan, his tone polite but with a hint of teasing.
He Xuan’s lips quirked upward in a faint smirk. “I’m merely here for some… entertainment.”
“And it looks like you’ve found plenty,” Xie Lian said warmly, his gaze landing on Yin Yu. “Yin Yu, I hope we’re not interrupting, but we were hoping you might help us with something.”
Yin Yu straightened in his chair, visibly relieved to shift focus. “Not at all, Your Highness. What do you need?”
Xie Lian carefully unpacked the broken trinkets, arranging them neatly on the desk. As he explained their origins, Yin Yu listened attentively, while He Xuan and Quan Yizhen looked increasingly disinterested. Quan Yizhen idly fidgeted with a stray ink brush, spinning it between his fingers, while He Xuan began munching on a mantou bun that appeared from seemingly nowhere.
When Xie Lian finished, the room fell into a contemplative silence. Yin Yu appeared deep in thought, his fingers brushing over the pieces of the jade figurine and the carved statuette.
“Well,” Yin Yu said after a moment, “I could definitely find the missing piece for the jade figurine. It might take some time, but it’s not impossible.”
Xie Lian beamed. “Really? That would be wonderful, Yin Yu! Thank you.”
“As for this one…” Yin Yu picked up the intricately carved statuette that Hua Cheng had set aside earlier. He turned it over in his hands, his brow furrowing in thought. “I think I’ve seen this somewhere before.”
“You have?” Hua Cheng asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
“Yes.” Yin Yu squinted at the delicate carvings, twisting and rotating the object as though searching for something. “Actually… if I’m remembering correctly, this isn’t just a decorative piece. It’s a puzzle.”
Xie Lian’s eyes lit up with excitement. “A puzzle? A puzzle for what?”
“That,” Yin Yu said, his voice thoughtful, “I don’t quite remember. But let me see if I can figure it out.”
All eyes were on him now. Even Quan Yizhen and He Xuan, who had seemed indifferent moments ago, leaned in slightly, their curiosity piqued. Yin Yu began manipulating the statuette, pressing small hidden panels and twisting sections that clicked softly under his fingers.
The room was silent except for the occasional faint sound of the puzzle’s mechanisms. Xie Lian leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly in anticipation. Hua Cheng stood just behind him, his arms crossed, but the glimmer of intrigue in his eye betrayed his interest.
After a few tense moments, Yin Yu’s hands stilled. “There,” he announced quietly, setting the statuette down on the desk.
Before anyone could respond, the statuette began to glow. Soft, golden light spilled from the carvings, filling the room with an otherworldly warmth.
“What the—” Quan Yizhen started, seeming to be ready to punch it.
Xie Lian’s breath hitched. “San Lang… what’s happening?”
Hua Cheng’s eyes narrowed, and he moved instinctively closer to Xie Lian, his hand brushing against his husband’s arm in a protective gesture. “I don’t know, but stay close to me, Gege.”
The light grew brighter, illuminating the entire library. Intricate patterns of golden symbols began to appear, spiraling out from the statuette and dancing across the surface of the desk.
Yin Yu blinked, clearly startled. “I—I didn’t expect that.”
He Xuan pushed off the bookshelf, his sharp gaze fixed on the glowing statuette. “That’s no ordinary trinket. Where did you find this, Your Highness?”
Xie Lian swallowed, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest. “It was in Puqi Village. Someone had discarded it… or so it seemed.”
“That’s no coincidence,” Hua Cheng said, his tone low and ominous. His gaze remained locked on the statuette, his posture rigid. “This isn’t just a puzzle. It’s a transportation device.”
Xie Lian blinked, confusion laced with alarm. “Transportation? To where?”
Before Hua Cheng could answer, the light flared brighter, casting long shadows across the library. A low hum reverberated through the room, vibrating the air. The golden symbols spiraling from the statuette shimmered and converged, forming a swirling vortex in midair.
Quan Yizhen’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Whoa! This is awesome!”
He Xuan shot him an unimpressed look, his voice dry. “Awesome is not the word I’d use.”
Yin Yu stumbled to his feet, his usually calm demeanor cracking. “I didn’t mean to activate anything! I swear I didn’t—”
“It’s fine,” Hua Cheng interrupted, his voice steady, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his vigilance. “Everyone, brace yourselves. We’re about to find out where this leads.”
Xie Lian stepped closer to Hua Cheng, his hand instinctively reaching for his husband’s arm. His touch was light but resolute, a silent declaration of unity. “San Lang, I’m with you.”
Hua Cheng turned his head slightly, the faintest flicker of a smile softening his intensity. “I know, Gege.”
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, their silhouettes framed by the golden vortex, which pulsed with a growing energy that seemed to fill the entire room. Behind them, Yin Yu, Quan Yizhen, and He Xuan watched in tense silence, the air thick with anticipation.
The vortex swirled faster, its hum rising to a crescendo. Whatever awaited them on the other side, they all would face it together.